2010.04.24: Korea RPCV Margaret Wheatley speaks on "The Future of the World Depends on Women"
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2010.04.24: Korea RPCV Margaret Wheatley speaks on "The Future of the World Depends on Women"
Korea RPCV Margaret Wheatley speaks on "The Future of the World Depends on Women"
"It's the emerging story of our time," Wheatley said - the story of how women are playing a bigger role in their communities. Around the world, women are working harder at making their communities healthier places to live, more beneficial to children and more possible for women to work their way out of poverty. Wheatley's evident passion stems from the calling she's had for as long as she could remember. "I always knew I was a teacher, and I always knew I was a writer," said Wheatley, who had a grandmother who encouraged her in those regards. Staying true to her dreams, she worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Korea, according to her biography. Later, she became a public school teacher and urban education administrator in New York, as well as a college associate professor. Since 1973, Wheatley has worked with a broad variety of organizations around the world, from large corporations and government agencies to churches and, of course, Girl Scouts. And all seem to have a common, human desire: to live together more harmoniously, more humanely. As a Girl Scout herself, Wheatley learned many skills. It was, perhaps, one of the very first steps she made toward achieving her life's goals. That need, to give girls a place like Girl Scouts to grow, is still great. "The focus now is building character, courage and confidence in young women, and that is a global need, and a global trend, as well," Wheatley said.
Korea RPCV Margaret Wheatley speaks on "The Future of the World Depends on Women"
Girl Scouts notable remains one dedicated cookie
LEADING
Wheatley: The author and teacher says leaders "have discovered an issue they care about."
By JASON ASHLEY WRIGHT World Scene Writer
Published: 4/24/2010 2:23 AM
Last Modified: 4/24/2010 5:09 AM
Margaret Wheatley recalls her days as a Brownie vividly and fondly.
Until she was 16, she was involved with Girl Scouts. And, yes, she always tries to eat Girl Scout cookies when they come out.
But Girl Scouts is not just about cookies, reminded the acclaimed author, teacher and speaker during a recent phone interview from Utah.
"It's really interesting how they're re-branding Girl Scouts," she said - how it's more about developing young women into leaders.
That's part of the message she'll deliver as keynote speaker at Wednesday's annual Juliette Low Leadership Society Celebration Luncheon at Southern Hills Country Club.
Proceeds from the event support Girl Scout programs and scholarships, five of which will be awarded to young women during the luncheon, said Patty Cappy, the event's honorary chairwoman. She looked at a number of candidates for the event's keynote speaker, but Wheatley "stood out immediately."
"She looks at diversity and embraces it," Cappy said. "She's all-inclusive. And those are things that Girl Scouts was built on."
The title of Wheatley's presentation, "The Future of the World Depends on Women," is derived from a quote by Kofi Annan, former secretary-general of the United Nations, with which he shared a Nobel Peace Prize.
"It's the emerging story of our time," Wheatley said - the story of how women are playing a bigger role in their communities. Around the world, women are working harder at making their communities
healthier places to live, more beneficial to children and more possible for women to work their way out of poverty.
Wheatley's evident passion stems from the calling she's had for as long as she could remember.
"I always knew I was a teacher, and I always knew I was a writer," said Wheatley, who had a grandmother who encouraged her in those regards.
Staying true to her dreams, she worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Korea, according to her biography. Later, she became a public school teacher and urban education administrator in New York, as well as a college associate professor.
Since 1973, Wheatley has worked with a broad variety of organizations around the world, from large corporations and government agencies to churches and, of course, Girl Scouts. And all seem to have a common, human desire: to live together more harmoniously, more humanely.
As a Girl Scout herself, Wheatley learned many skills. It was, perhaps, one of the very first steps she made toward achieving her life's goals. That need, to give girls a place like Girl Scouts to grow, is still great.
"The focus now is building character, courage and confidence in young women, and that is a global need, and a global trend, as well," Wheatley said.
That focus includes nurturing leaders, which she defines simply as "anyone who wants to help."
"Leaders everywhere are made, not born," she said. "And they're made because they discovered an issue they care about."
Such issues can be personal, such as taking up for a friend in school, or they can be larger ones, such as famine.
It's all about feeling committed to something, "feeling called by an issue," she said. "That's what motivates us; that's what keeps us going."
Juliette Low Leadership Society Celebration Luncheon
When: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Southern Hills Country Club, 61st Street and Lewis Avenue
Tickets: $100 per person. For more, contact Donna Stidham, 745-5202.
Online: tulsaworld.com/megwheatley
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: April, 2010; Peace Corps Korea; Directory of Korea RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Korea RPCVs; The Third Goal; Women's Issues; Oklahoma
When this story was posted in April 2010, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| Memo to Incoming Director Williams PCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams |
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Story Source: Tulsa World
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Korea; The Third Goal; Women's Issues
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